Shanghai Masters 2018: 4 admirable displays in a losing cause

2018 Rolex Shanghai Masters - Day 8
2018 Rolex Shanghai Masters - Day 8

#2. Yibing Wu v Kei Nishikori - Round of 32

Yibing Wu (right) having earned Nishikori's respect shakes hands with him and receives warm words - Rolex Shanghai Masters 2018
Yibing Wu (right) having earned Nishikori's respect shakes hands with him and receives warm words - Rolex Shanghai Masters 2018

An Asian Wild Card against the Asian No.1, it didn't seem that way in Set 1 of Yibing Wu's Round 2 match against Nishikori.

The first set was a shock for everyone including Wu himself. He got a break in the 3rd game, but when Nishikori broke back straight away it looked ominous. But, the 332nd ranked youngster showed his mettle, breaking the Nishikori serve to love in Game 8 without breaking a sweat. Serving for the set he kept his cool at 30-30 to take a memorable lead.

That was the wakeup call Nishikori needed as he upped his level to dominate the 2nd set 6-0. Wu recovered in the 3rd set to hold serve in game 2 and saved 2 break points to hold again in game 4. But, he couldn't stop his opponent for long as Kei broke in game 6 and won the set. Yibing Wu, an obscure tennis player had made his name known although he lost.

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